color enhancer?

[MadMat]

I was wondering if anyone has heard of any formulas that use a halogen other than chlorine as a color enhancer. By asking this, I am assuming another halogen could be used as such.

 

[Mumbles]

There is a table in Hardt of various emitting species and has a variety of halides included if you want some more general information. There's been some work using bromine, particularly copper bromide for blues. These compositions are generally prepared with copper bromate and/or potassium bromate. Most of it is kind of bullshit as it's sold as a chlorine-free, chlorate free, blah blah blah mixture without mentioning any of the concerns with bromates. The color is great though. That said, there are a few bromine and mixed chlorine-bromine based flame redardants available which are similar to dechlorane that I've had a passing interest in trying. I included some links to a bit more info.

 

https://phys.org/news/2015-09-benign-blue-pyrotechnics.html

http://rec.pyrotechnics.narkive.com/pH4TdL75/potassium-bromate-blue-stars

https://cen.acs.org/articles/95/i27/s-fireworks-produces-those-colorful.html

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/chem.201502752/abstract

[MadMat]

Thanks Mumbles. Bromine was exactly what I was thinking of when I asked this question. Even if there was a fluorine based formula, I wouldn't be very interested in trying it... fluorine and most of its compounds are pretty nasty stuff.

Edited October 12, 2017 by MadMat

[AzoMittle]

I don't have any details on hand but I remember something about bromides being used for color. I would try to get a hold of Baechle if you can.

 

I know fluorine and xenon compounds have been used for other (non-recreational) pyrotechnic applications, mostly high-energy/light output. Do a Google Scholar search for Ernst Christian Koch, he is one of my favorite authors on the topic.

[MadMat]

It's funny you mentioned xenon compounds for high light output. I have "played" with lasers quite a bit and vaguely remember reading somewhere that xenon compounds were used to chemically pump lasers, such as, a dye laser. The article stressed that it was not a xenon flash lamp but a xenon compound that was burned to create intense light. I had long forgotten about that. On the subject of lasers and halogens, copper bromide can be used to create a copper vapor laser

Edited October 12, 2017 by MadMat

[Mumbles]

Now that you mention it, there are some flares based on fluorine. Mg/Teflon type mixture or similar fluorocarbons. They're ferociously bright, and actually extremely sensitive. If I recall they also produce a lot of infrared radiation as well.

[AzoMittle]

Correct on all accounts Mums. The "funny" thing about the Mg/Teflon mixes (and all the fluorine polymers) is that they are incredibly stable until they suddenly become incredibly unstable. Lots, and lots of documentation on them thankfully; I would say stay away unless you know that you know what you're doing. I would suggest reading up on them though, interesting stuff.

[drtoivowillmann]

Dear friend:

 

1st.) Chlorine, with success can be substitude by bromine or iodine.

2nd.) Chlorine donors are not colour enhancer but colour activaters: barium, calcium and copper need to be moblized by reation and transormation into their halogenids to produce good colour, strontium at least should be.

3rd.) Something like heamine is a true colour enhancer and makes colours made of barium, calcium, sodium and strontium purer.

Don't use with copper.

 

Yours truly: Toivo

[Sulphurstan]

Hexamine? That sounds strange but interesting. Do you have a link to some compositions using Hexamine as color enhancer? (exept United nuclear go getters? where hexamione is combined with parlon)

Edited November 28, 2017 by Sulphurstan

[MDH]

Toivo has given cryptic advice before, but I trust him on the basis of having tried some of his suggestions.

 

My best guess is that ammonia in the flame increases the volatility of some metal ions, allowing better stability of volatile color-forming compounds in the flame. It would certainly make sense of some compositions I've seen before.

Edited November 29, 2017 by MDH